2021 WSB Gauteng Summer Cup

The stage is set for one of South Africa’s biggest horse racing events as the WSB Gauteng Summer Cup takes centre stage on Saturday at Turffontein. Nineteen runners will line up at the 2000m mark for the ultimate prize and claim the first leg of the Triple Tiara, won by Summer Pudding last year. We’ve got an exciting 10-race programme lined up in the city of Johannesburg, so without further ado, let’s get down to business.

Race 1 – #ThisIsRacing Welcomes You (1600m)

Saturday’s race meeting gets underway at 11:35 where Bellevarde is tipped to open the card under the guidance of Bernard Fayd’herbe and trainer, Joe Soma, who team up later on for Got The Greenlight in the main event. The daughter of Master Of My Fate made late headway when finishing third behind Coral Dawn over 1400m and could shed her maiden tag in this field. Interestingly, Burmese Tiara, who finished second in that race, has also come out to win since that run. From barrier gate 3, this 3-year-old filly should steer punters in the winning direction in race 1.

Race 2 – The Citizen Maiden Plate (1600m)

This year’s Vodacom Durban July winning-jockey, Gavin Lerena, retains the ride of Master Of Coin, who is the top selection in race 2 of Saturday’s programme. The 3-year-old son of Byword, from the Roy Magner stable, finished third in both runs over 1600m and just behind Secret Link, who is ridden by Muzi Yeni in this race, despite excuses. Magnum P I is the danger in the race, but Lerena tends to know how to work his rides better on big-race days.

Race 3 – 4Racing Pinnacle Stakes (1600m)

Race 3 offers an easy way to get out of trouble if the first two races have let you down as Sound Of Summer looks to be the best bet on the card this Saturday. Warren Kennedy and Paul Peter team up to bring home this son of Silvano. He is unbeaten over this course and distance in two starts and should keep that record intact. Cornish Pomodoro could be the next best in the race for all Swinger and Exacta punters.

Race 4 – Grade 3 WSB Magnolia Handicap (1160m)

Leg 1 of what is expected to be a massive Pick 6 pool starts with the Grade 3 WSB Magnolia Handicap over 1160m. Sprint races are always tricky on big days in horse racing, but once again it seems like Warren Kennedy and Paul Peter could trounce their opposition with Big Burn. The 3-year-old daughter of Elusive Fort drops back in trip and is likely to continue with her usual tactics of going to the front early on and finding extra when the finishing line approaches. A strong tight finish is expected, but Kennedy should notch up the win for the ASSM Racing Syndicate.

Race 5 – Grade 3 WSB Merchants (1160m)

Again, sprint races can always be tricky on a day of this magnitude and this looks like it could be one of the toughest picks on the card. Despite carrying 61kgs on his back, I fancy Ultra Magnus to cause somewhat of an upset here. The 6-year-old gelding won this exact same race last year and made an impressive comeback run over 1000m last time out, finishing just over a length and a half behind Chantyman. In that run, the son of Oratorio, from the Peter Muscutt stable reversed the form to finish in front of Pearl Of Asia, who won the Mercury Sprint back in July. Donovan Dillon has one ride for the day and could have a 100% record come Saturday.

Race 6 – Grade 2 WSB Dingaans (1600m)

Some of the finest 3-year-olds in the country will head down to the post in race 6 of Saturday’s programme. Trainer, Mike De Kock, plays a strong hand in the Grade 2 Dingaans with Aragosta, ridden by Gavin Lerena, and Safe Passage, which is the top selection here, ridden by S’manga Khumalo. The 3-year-old gelding came off an impressive win over 2000m to notch up his hat-trick. Being back over a mile will definitely come as a boost to the son of Silvano and given the form Khumalo is in at the moment, Safa Passage looks hard to peg back. Pyromaniac must be respected from the Sean Tarry yard; however, he may not be as suited to the trip as the aforementioned.

Race 7 – Grade 2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge (1600m)

There seems to be a banker in the Pick Six for brave punters coming in the form of Rain In Holland from the Sean Tarry stable, ridden by Grant van Niekerk. This Drakenstein Stud-owned filly has done nothing wrong in her career to date and is unbeaten over 1600m. She finished third behind War of Athena over 1400m in her comeback run, which is far from shameful considering the daughter of Act Of War is the current favourite in the Summer Cup. If you aren’t going to banker Rain In Holland in your Pick Six, then I suggest you go wide and hope for an upset. I personally cannot see that happening though.

Race 8 – Grade 1 WSB Gauteng Summer Cup (2000m)

A staggering R2 million will be up for grabs in the running of this year’s Gauteng Summer Cup as 19 horses line out for the final massive race day of the year. It is extremely difficult to look past the favourite in the form of War of Athena. The manner in which she cruised to victory last time out suggests that she may be back to her best after a disappointing run on July-day, where she ran third behind Zarina. Got The Greenlight may be her biggest threat, although Muzi Yeni knows both horses very well and may be the difference in this battle. In terms of value, Shango could be one for the Trifectas or Quartets. The 5-year-old gelding will be much more suited to the 2000m trip and will ensure the winner of the race isn’t lonely at the finish line. Given Sean Tarry’s record at the Summer Cup, don’t be surprised if he causes an upset and defies the odds.

Race 9 – Listed Racing Association Stayers (3200m)

Pace will be a key factor in race 9 of the day’s programme over 3200m. Earlier, it was mentioned that sprint races may be tough to call, well nothing is harder to predict than the listed races over these kinds of distances. Being the final leg of the Pick Six, you may just have to go field in this race to play it safe. I do, however, reckon Out Of Your League from the Fabian Habib stable could be one to keep an eye on. Raymond Danielson picks up the ride and has fond memories on this horse, who he won with four months ago, and then went on to finish third in the Gold Cup, just over a length behind Nebraas.

Race 10 – 4Racing Maiden Plate (2000m)

There seems to be loads of value on offer in the final race at Turffontein this Saturday over 2000m. Clarkson may be the most competitive of them all in this field and should be hard to beat under the guidance of jockey, Gavin Lerena, and trainer, Candice Dawson. There were positive signs in his comeback run, while it also should be noted that the form has been franked in that race. If the 4-year-old gelding doesn’t give too much ground away at the start, he should be ultra-competitive.